GOVERNMENT CANNOT AFFORD $12.8 MILLION FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS BUT WILL AFFORD $10 BILLION FOR PROJECTS

99 MS dilemma-29th.June

MORE THAN 90 OUT OF THE 128 STUDENTS OPTED OUT OF MEDICINE

Only a few of the 99 top scorers given places in private medical schools have taken up the offers despite the government’s favorable loan terms. Some of whom have opted to accept the initial offers of places to study non-medical courses at public universities.

However, all 29 of those offered places at public universities have registered for their courses.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow was clearly upset that the students had rejected the offers because they were unhappy with the terms of the loan.

“Nowhere else can they expect a loan with the very low interest rate of 3% and a 15-year repayment period. We have also made it very clear that the loans may be converted into scholarships if their performance is equivalent to a first-class degree.

“The only thing we have yet to disclose is the classification of ‘excellent’ for medical degrees. (QUESTION: WHY IS IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT ARE NOT DISCLOSING THE CLASSIFICATION OF "EXCELLENT", DATUK FU? IS IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO CLASSIFY AS WE DON'T HAVE A PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM THAT CAN BE APPLIED HOLISTICALLY, AND UNBAISED?) "However, this should not be a factor in their decision to accept or reject the places,” he said, adding that the ministry was in the midst of finalising the number of students who had accepted the offers.

Most of those who rejected the offers, Dr Ishak added, wanted a guarantee that their loans would be converted to scholarships.

“How can they have a guarantee when they have not even started the course? If they want to study medicine so much, they should accept the offer and work hard for it to be made a scholarship,” Dr. Ishak said. (Dr, Ishak, is any one student related to you, or if one is your son, would you say the same; are you honest? Its so easy to make judgment on others when you have nothing to lose; but if you are a stakeholder, would you say the same?)

Why is the 128 students not offered scholarship? Are they less deserving than the 799 who were offered public universities at a fee that is only 10% as compared to the 99 who will have to pay hundreds of thousands plus 3% interest for 15 years.

"Do you equate this to FAIRNESS & EQUALITY, DATUK FU & DR. ISHAK - ARE YOU HONEST?"

In the first place, the Government had promised and set the guidelines that those who achieved 4.0 CGPA will qualify for study in medicine.

The question wasn't that the 128 deserves automatic places, but the selection process was tainted with unfairness as 80% Metricultion students were offered to study medicine while only 20% from STPM were selected.

There were 1247 metriculation students who scored 4.0 CGPA and 527 from STPM. Those in Metriculation studied only one year as compared with those from STPM who had to struggle for 2 years. Metriculation examination is internally conducted but STPM is an external exam. Only one bumi from STPM scored 4.0 CGPA - WHY??? It must be tough!

The detail results of those with 4.0 CGPA are: 790 Bumis, 922 Chinese and 62 Indians. The selection to study medicine are 439 of the 790 bumis (55.57%), 297 of 922 Chinese (32.21%) and 42 of 62 Indians (67.74%).

There again, when the Government LOUDLY proclaim that the selection will be soley & entirely based on MERITOCRACY, the decision, does it reflect meritocracy or quota?

If we want quota system, stick to quota -
MERITOCRACY IS MERITOCRACY - NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS!

Why Boast about meritocracy when we can't follow the discipline?

I like to quote the text from Dr. Ibrahim Bajunid in his article published in the NSTP as below:

NEGLECT NOT THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN ECONOMY
Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid; NSTP; ‘As I Wonder’, June 20, 2004

“In truth, there is actually no way to sustain the expressed achievements of the nation & the claims to all kinds of leadership if there is no system to groom a highly knowledgeable, soundly competent, ethical generation of scholars and learners who will be the next generation of leaders. This is about the creation of a national talent pool and succession planning in all fields of human activities.”

“The promise that Malaysia is a Center of Excellence must be made good, otherwise … the credibility of the nation will surely be eroded. Malaysian society does not want to be a one that is offensively boastful, one whose talks do not match deeds.”“

The competitiveness of the country depends on the strength of its educational system, particularly it’s universities. Institutions must be able to match appropriate talents with the needs of the nation. To achieve such ends, the appointment of professors, Deans, Vice Chancellors, Presidents & Rectors must be transparent and open to national talent search. It’s human resources must be dynamic, possess relevant knowledge, are entrepreneurial, creative & innovative, and have research as well as global networking abilities.”

I like to quote another article by Dr. Zain Azrai in his letter to Jeff Ooi:

"...Even worse for the poor non Bumi's not given a place in local university. Even if they can afford, they wouldn't be given a place because of the quota system. Unfortunately, the Chinamen and Indianmen gets 5As in STPM had to be sacrificed and not given a place to let the Malay fellow with 2Es and 3 Fs to enter the medical faculty or law faculty."

I may not agree with Dr. Zain as those selected and given priority nowadays (not previously) are Metriculation students with 4As, of course not STPM. The hypothetical question is - will the same metri-students get the same 4.0CGPA if they do STPM? I believe some would, and many won't. Why don't they Government give this analysis a TRY? CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN.

Even if the Government is to pay for the full 99 at private universities, it may cost the Government RM9.9 million. At the same time, the Government is willing to spent an additional RM 10 billion for projects which are mostly privatised at a contract price that makes the few anointed contractors and crony consultants instant multi-millionaires. There is also the RM 120 million contribution to PLUS to help them pay for the reconstruction of the Jelapang Toll. Just see - what the shit decisions our politicians will make and they always claim that all decisions were for the interest of the Rakyat. Aren't the 99 students RAKYATS & THE FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW?